Freshman Republican from Texas reports TSA altercation

A freshman Republican from Texas says the TSA got a little too friendly during a recent pat-down in San Antonio — leading to an exchange where the congressman and the TSA agent wanted each other arrested for assault.

Last week, a TSA agent at San Antonio International Airport patted down Francisco “Quico” Canseco, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee. The agent, Canseco told POLITICO, was so aggressive in his pat-down that Canseco ended up batting the agent’s hand away.

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“As he was moving up my leg, he moved his hand aggressively up to my crotch and he hurt me,” Canseco said. “The natural reaction is when someone goes for your crotch and it hurts, you’re going to pull back — and my right arm came down and moved away his hand briskly.”

That’s when the agent stopped the whole process, Canseco said.

“As I moved his hand away, he claims, ‘I’ve been assaulted, I’ve been assaulted,’” he said.

The agent then called the police over and asked them to arrest the lawmaker.

“I told him, ‘Hey, I’m the guy who was assaulted,’” Canseco said.

It took 20 minutes for police to untangle the spat, but no charges were filed and no citations were issued.

But the story doesn’t end there, Canseco said. Earlier this week, he was patted down again in San Antonio.

“The second time, I don’t believe that … was random. If there had been an intervening moment or an intervening travel where I wasn’t stopped, maybe,” but it happened less than a week after the original incident, Canseco said.

The TSA responded with a statement saying “TSA incorporates random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport. Once a passenger enters the screening process, they must complete it prior to continuing to a flight or secure area."

It’s the first time Canseco has gotten this up close and personal with TSA, but it’s not the first time he’s had a beef with the agency.

Earlier this year, he and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sponsored a bill known as the STRIP Act, which seeks to prohibit TSA agents from using any trappings of law enforcement. For instance, it would prohibit TSA agents from being called “officer” and would forbid them from wearing uniforms or badges that resemble those worn by police officers.

Canseco said he’s “very sensitive to security” and believes that America has to be vigilant in the face of terrorist threats. He recounted being stopped by airport security in the early 1970s, when a series of planes were being hijacked and taken to Cuba.

“There I am, Francisco Canseco, going to the airport … and they see my name and stop me,” Canseco said. “I’m Latin-American origin, yeah, sure, fine, ask me all sorts of questions … make sure everybody’s safe. I get it.”

But, he added, the TSA should be more selective in its processes and take more steps not to offend people’s dignity.

“Rather than holding up these huge lines delaying passengers making it very, very uncomfortable for them … we need to employ other ways of making sure that we’re safe,” Canseco said.

Canseco said he’s embarrassed by the attention — and that he didn’t tip off the press about the whole affair. Not until the second incident was he even recognized as a congressman.

“The policeman told me, ‘You have the power to do something about this if you don’t like this,’” Canseco said. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I suspect he’s the one that went to the press.”

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 9:12 a.m. on April 25, 2012.

Alabama police are trying to track down a mob that beat a man into critical condition -- leaving their battered victim with the words, "Now that's justice for Trayvon."

Cops told WKRG that Matthew Owens got in an argument with some kids playing basketball at a court in the city of Mobile on Saturday night. The kids left and a group of some 20 adults arrived at Owens' front doorstep, armed with chairs, brass knuckles, pipes and paint cans.

The group, all African American, allegedly beat him into a bloody pulp before someone uttered the words that connected the crime to the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teen who was shot and killed in Florida by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman.

"It was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed," Owens' sister, Ashley Parker, told the station. She said the perps utilized "anything they could get their hands on" as weapons.

This is an issue that conservatives, moderates and liberals can likely all agree on - the TSA is a horrible invasion of privacy and, more importantly, violative of the Fourth Amendment. Let's all just agree we do not want to be groped at the airport by some minimum wage hack, nor do we want full body scans. Let's take a page out of Israel's book. They have the most significant terrorist threats in the world yet they don't have to disrobe or subject themselves to invasive pat-downs to board a plane. Instead, they ask a few questions and based on the responses determine whether to question the person further, perform a search, etc. And they use intelligent, college-educated, people (typically with psychology degrees or experience) to perform these tasks instead of former Burger King employees (no offense to Burger King employees, but I hardly think you're qualified to guard against terrorism). The statistics indicate we are less safe than we were before 9/11 and that the TSA has become less and less effective as more money is spent and more personnel added. When was the last time you heard a news story about TSA foiling a terrorist plot by catching the terrorists at security checkpoints? While it may have happened, I haven't heard any such stories and I regularly follow the news. Despite all the polarization over emotionally charged issues, this is one I think the people can come together on. I think everyone knows deep down that this type of intrusion flouts our Constitutional rights. And it's not in the 10th Amendment sort of way (which many argue "if it's not in the Constitution, it's un-Constitutional for the federal government to do it," which ignores over a century of Supreme Court precedent, but that's a topic for another post). The Fourth Amendment specifically says "The right of the people ... against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." I realize boarding a plane is not the same as being in a public space, but that does not give the government free reign to ignore our founding document. Driving a car is not a right, yet police cannot randomly stop you and search you in the name of terrorism (although it has gotten worse for drivers and passengers since the Patriot Act). So for once, can't we all agree that the TSA must go!!!

The TSA should be something that illuminates to the general public that both sides of the imaginary political aisle in truth care nothing about the people outside of fooling them into voting them into office each election cycle.

Instead we're all too busy fighting over abortion and gay marraige(by design), to realize our country is becoming a fascist dictatorship and the constitution is being shredded to pieces by the people we've been suckered into supporting.

Obloviator, wrong article, this has nothing to do with Trayvon. But since you brought it up, you seem to have purposely edited your story to make Mr. Owens seem like an innocent white victim in an attempt to draw a false equivalence with the Trayvon case, or even to make this case look worse than the Trayvon case, yet isn't making national news (hence your post, to let everyone know what the liberal, race-baiting media isn't covering the story because the victim is white). Well according to the local media, Owens chased some kids off his sister's property with a knife after their basketball went into her yard. Then the 20+ people showed up to beat the **** out of him. Was it justified, likely not. Will there be arrests, likely so. Will the one unnamed, unidentified person who allegedly heard the "this is for Trayvon" statement eventually recant her story or end up not testifying because of her lack of credibility, probably so. See, Obloviator, you conveniently left out the part where Owens first chased the kids with a knife. You also left out his violent criminal history which includes assault, domestic violence and sexual assault. But even for the sake of argument, if someone said "this is for Trayvon," it wasn't really for Trayvon. It was because this violent criminal chased some kids playing basketball with a knife. But for Owens' actions, there would have been no beating. Again, I'm not saying they were justified (they certainly weren't), but it's a simple cause and effect, neither of which involved Trayvon. Nice try though.

By the way, if witnesses saw Trayvon chase Zimmerman with a knife, there would be no Trayvon story. If Trayvon had a criminal background that included multiple violent crimes, there would be no Trayvon story. If Trayvon was a dropout, in a gang, was a drug dealer, etc., there would be no Trayvon story. The reason it became a national story is because a unarmed high school kid with no criminal background was walking where he was supposed to be walking, is now dead and until recently, no arrest was made as the police concluded Zimmerman acted in self-defense. Without pressure from the so-called race baiters, Zimmerman would likely still be a free man and never face a trial. Say what you will about Sharpton, and there's a lot of valid criticism that can be leveled, but he is a large part of the reason there is going to be a trial and going to be justice - which is all the family wanted in the first place.

+1 to the number of innocent and harmless Americans groped by the TSA for trying to board a plane.

Total # of innocent Americans groped by the TSA = Probably over 10 million since the TSA started 'pat downs'

Total # of terrorists planning on blowing up a plane the TSA has stopped from boarding planes since it was founded = 0

Total # of terrorist attacks passengers on planes have foiled by subduing the terrorist(s) since 9/11 = I think at least 6

Total # of people given cancer by TSA full body scanners based on statistical analysis = Around a dozen a year (see explanation below on this)

Total # of extra car accidents caused by people driving instead of flying to their destinations to avoid TSA pat downs based on statistical analysis & polling data = over 3,000 a year

Conclusion: The TSA is a big waste of money that violates our right to privacy, while failing to stop actual terrorists, and likely causing more people to die in car accidents each year.

Also the full body scanners have been shown to have a 1 in a million chance of causing cancer per use. While that may not sound like much, Europe has BANNED full body scanners at airports over cancer causing concerns. And when you have tens of millions of people flying in your country each year, that in a million shot adds up to over a dozen people getting cancer a year from it.

This is an issue that conservatives, moderates and liberals can likely all agree on - the TSA is a horrible invasion of privacy and, more importantly, violative of the Fourth Amendment. Let's all just agree we do not want to be groped at the airport by some minimum wage hack, nor do we want full body scans

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Please speak for yourself - As someone who flies regularly, I prefer a tasteful pat down to the option of getting bown to smithereens by some bomb toting terrorist. Who made this lawmaker so special that he feels that he does not have to endure what the rest of us have to go through?

A "tasteful pat-down"? Are you serious? You know I am gettting really tired of all these Chicken Littles who continue to force their fear of the next boogey-man on the rest of us.

I have an idea. Since you are so afraid of being blown up by terrorists on a plane, and want to be guaranteed protection from this no matter what the cost, why dont YOU drive where you need to go, instead of forcing the rest of us to endure this TSA crap all because you are afraid to pee your pants?

I think that those wimpy Americans who are perfectly willing to give up their dignity, freedom and 4th Amendment rights should be the ones who are inconvenienced by driving or taking a train. After all flying is not a right, but a privilidge, correct?

A "tasteful pat-down"? Are you serious? You know I am gettting really tired of all these Chicken Littles who continue to force their fear of the next boogey-man on the rest of us.

I have an idea. Since you are so afraid of being blown up by terrorists on a plane, and want to be guaranteed protection from this no matter what the cost, why dont YOU drive where you need to go, instead of forcing the rest of us to endure this TSA crap all because you are afraid to pee your pants?

I think that those wimpy Americans who are perfectly willing to give up their dignity, freedom and 4th Amendment rights should be the ones who are inconvenienced by driving or taking a train. After all flying is not a right, but a privilidge, correct?

Why doesn't someone in the government take the initiative to rid us of this awful TSA? Aside from all else, they are helping to bankrupt airlines and reduce income to airline employees and retirees by driving passengers (and revenue) away. Please, please members of Congress ... stop this rogue group.

Body Imaging Screening. During consideration of the Transportation Security Administration Authorization bill (H.R. 2200), Rep. Jason Chaffetz (RUtah) offered an amendment that would prohibit the use of Whole-Body Imaging (WBI) as the primary method of screening at airports. The amendment would allow passengers the option of a patdown search rather than being subjected to a WBI search that shows extremely intimate details of one’s body. The Chaffetz amendment would also prohibit TSA from storing, copying, or transferring any images that are produced by WBI machines. Since its creation, TSA has become infamous for its meddlesome searches and disregard for an individual’s right of privacy. Evidence shows that corruption and mismanagement have been commonplace within the relatively new federal department for years. The Chaffetz amendment would do very little to scale back the power held by the TSA, but it does offer some hope that our representatives are not wholly unaware of how the TSA and its policies would threaten the privacy of American citizens through a process that has been called a “virtual strip-search.” The House adopted the Chaffetz amendment by a “Committee of the Whole” on June 4, 2009, by a vote of 310-118 (Roll Call 305). Such technology is obtrusive for American citizens and violates our right of protection against unwarranted searches and seizures. Marsha Blackburn voted AGAINST this bill. Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman. She is no conservative. See her unconstitutional votes at : http://mickeywhite.blogspot.co... /> Mickey

It's been a busy week for TSA. They molested three children, a ten year old with a diabetes pump, a four year old who hugged her grandma and a seven year old with cerebral palsy. They also sexually assaulted a Congressman and four TSA screeners were arrested for smuggling drugs through LAX.

Let's hear it from the TSA apologists who continue to say that this crime and abuse by TSA is somehow improving airline security.

There were a total of 91 TSA workers arrested in the last 16 months including 12 arrested for child sex crimes, over 25 for theft, ten for smuggling and even one for murder. Crime, abuse and incompetence is so widespread in TSA that even Kip Hawley, the last TSA Director, has called for its overhaul.

This just demonstrates how stupid and sick the whole TSA approach is and why it needs to be overhauled. TSA has done more damage to our liberty, way of life and morality than Al Qaeda could have ever hoped to do.

It is long past time to replace this agency and arrest everyone who works there.

In a move that could affect security at airports around the nation, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed Wednesday it had such a backlog of background security checks, airport employers were allowed to hire any employee needed.

TSA officials said the background checks are delayed, but they are processing them as fast as they can.

TSA also will complete background checks on accepted applicants at a later date.

On Wednesday, Channel 2 obtained a Hartsfield-Jackson International airport internal security memo detailing the policy shift, but the TSA said the policy affects airports across the country. Late Wednesday afternoon, the TSA said the Atlanta backlog was resolved. There was no mention of backlogs around the country.

Before the change, any new employee was required to undergo both a TSA criminal background check and a security threat analysis because of access to certain security areas off limits to civilians.

In a statement from Washington, TSA spokesman Jon Allen said, "The TSA was recently made aware that a newly implemented change to the system used to process airline and airport employee background checks resulted in a delay for requests submitted through the American Association of Airport Executives. The cause of the issue was quickly identified, and TSA and AAAE have worked together to implement a solution."

Allen also said TSA has given airport employers "interim regulatory relief," meaning it's allowing them to hire people without the completed background checks.

"At no time was security at risk, and all new employees will still undergo identity verification and be subject to watchlist matching," said Allen.

"This is a joke," said Broun. "This letter shows the incompetence of TSA. It shows that they cannot and are not doing their job they were instructed to do through the law."

Security expert Brent Brown of Chesley-Brown Security believes the move could be a potential threat to airports.

"You can't put unsecured people or people that you haven't checked in a secured environment," said Brown. "By that very definition, you've breached security."

Regarding the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, a TSA official said, "TSA has worked closely with the AAAE and the Atlanta Airport to address the delays in processing airport and airline employee background checks. Currently, all requests have been processed and no backlog remains."

Canseco, I told you face to face when I shook your hand that I was not involved in this. Now you are calling me a liar and saying that you think I did this. I've just lost respect for you.... If im gonna say it I'll put my name on it.